Sex workers want party support
Sex workers want party support
Kolkata, March 19, 2009: Sex workers have shot off letters to political parties demanding space in their election agenda. According to an estimate by Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee (DMSC), there are around 70,000 sex workers in Kolkata alone. Along with their family members, they comprise an electorate of around 2,10,000. Sonagachhi, the largest red light area in the city, usually has three polling booths where sex workers cast their votes.
The first letter was shot off to Left Front chairman Biman Bose on Sunday. Similar letters have been sent to leaders of Trinamool, Congress, BJP and other parties.
The letter reads: “Your party is fighting for the poor and the marginalized. We expect your party to also have our agenda in your election manifesto and discuss our problems in different public forums. We will support your party if you give due weight to our issues.”
“The Left Front has always been cooperative with DMSC. So, we first approached Bose. Though he gave us a patient hearing, the party has not committed anything,” said DMSC programme director Bharati Dey.
DMSC wants sex workers included in the labour list, recognition of sex work as a profession and scrapping of clauses in the Immoral Trafficking Prevention Act that criminalize sex workers. They want the state to recognize sex workers’ self-regulatory board to prevent trafficking.
“In the absence of a legal sanction, sex workers are exploited. We want to remind political parties that they shouldn’t only seek our vote but also support our cause in this election,” added Dey.
DMSC has also sent an appeal to chief electoral officer Debashis Sen to appoint sex workers on poll duty during this Lok Sabha election and said it can spare 5,000 sex workers for the task.
Source: The Times of India